Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Feb 14: A runaway tanker caused a series of accidents near Kulai Junction in Surathkal on Thursday night. The incident occurred when a parked tanker, left unattended, began rolling down the slope from Vidyanagar, leading to multiple collisions.

The Nagaland-registered tanker had arrived for loading hydrogen peroxide when it suddenly moved downhill at a speed of 40 km/h. It crashed into a scooter, a car, and two auto-rickshaws before colliding with an electric pole. The impact also damaged a nearby clinic and the front portion of a house. Fortunately, patients inside the clinic remained unharmed, and auto-rickshaw drivers managed to escape just in time.

This marks the second time the traffic signal pole at Kulai Junction has been knocked down due to vehicle collisions. The electronic equipment on the pole was damaged, along with a CCTV camera installed for security by the Surathkal police. The incident attracted large crowds, making it difficult for the police to control the situation. Meanwhile, the tanker driver was nowhere to be found. assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Najma Farooqi, circle inspector Mahesh Prasad, and traffic police arrived at the scene to manage the situation and restore traffic flow.

Timely action by constable prevents major disaster

With thousands of vehicles moving on the highway as usual, constable Santosh K of Mangaluru north traffic police was on duty at the junction, regulating traffic. At that moment, he noticed the tanker rolling downhill without headlights. Realizing the potential danger, he immediately stopped vehicles from both sides of the highway. Seeing elderly pedestrians standing by the roadside, he urgently warned them to move to safety. He also alerted auto-rickshaw drivers, allowing them to escape in time.

His quick thinking not only prevented further collisions but also averted a possible loss of life. The public lauded the constable’s presence of mind and timely action.